Maldives - what can you tell me?

Zulu

Hi folks,
I'm currently trying to book a honeymoon in the Maldives at the start of January.
We're looking for excellent snorkeling, huts in the sea, clear waters teaming with life etc..

Has anyone been?
Can anyone recommend??
Any warnings???
Nuggets of experience????

Any help/recommendations would be greatly appreciated. (Particularly in relation to islands & resorts) Cheers.

T Dog

Hey,

I went on honeymoon to the Maldives in 2008 and it was great. We stayed at the Blue Lagoon Resort, Kuramathi. This is one of the biggest islands but saying that you can walk from 1 end to the other in about 20 mins. We stayed in the water bungalows which are wonderful. My advice would be to book all inclusive as it definitely works out cheaper if you like a few drinks during the day.

lucylu

We went to the Maldives in May 2007 on our honeymoon - we stayed at the Taj Coral reef ( since refurbished and called the Vivanta By Taj - Coral Reef ) Booked through Sunway
We flew from Dublin to Heathrow to Male airport direct with Sri lanka Airlines and on returning we stopped in Colombo airport in Sri Lanka Airport and back to Heathrow.

The Airport is on a separate Island so too is the City, the fuel depot and incinerator.
We took a boat to the island about 45 minutes.

You could walk around the island in 3 or 4 minutes.

It gets dark very quickly at about 6.30 ish

Fantastic food
Fantastic spa which provided a couples package.
Great for Diving and snorkling. you can complete the Padi diving. There is a ship wreck close to the island.
We went fishing twice in the afternoon and at night and the chefs cooked the fish you caught.

As it is a Muslim country guests can drink on the resort.however where we stayed was not the place where you could get drink all night.

tinkerbell

The Maldives is the most wonderful place in the world! I haven't been yet but I have done loads of research into it as I intend to go in the next 2 years

First of all, what's your budget? Beach villas are the standard option in Maldivan resorts, water villas would cost a good bit more.

Zulu

5K each all in.

Zulu

lucylu wrote: »

We went to the Maldives in May 2007 on our honeymoon - we stayed at the Taj Coral reef ( since refurbished and called the Vivanta By Taj - Coral Reef ) Booked through Sunway

We are talking to Sunway alright, but Marks tavel seem to be coming in a bit cheaper.

We flew from Dublin to Heathrow to Male airport direct with Sri lanka Airlines and on returning we stopped in Colombo airport in Sri Lanka Airport and back to Heathrow.

What were Sri Lanka Air like? Reading reviews they weren't coming out great. I'm cautious flying such a long flight with a bad carrier (are they bad) - we flew to Maritius with Air France & they were a disaster.

The Airport is on a separate Island so too is the City, the fuel depot and incinerator. We took a boat to the island about 45 minutes.

Was the island far away for the main land? I've heard some of the islands loose the "getaway" feel if they're close to the main island.

Fantastic food
Fantastic spa which provided a couples package.
Great for Diving and snorkling. you can complete the Padi diving. There is a ship wreck close to the island.

I'm an experienced diver so a good house reef is very important to me (for snorkling). Is the diving expensive?
I was thinking for trying to arrange 7 dives (every second day to avoid bordom).

As it is a Muslim country guests can drink on the resort.however where we stayed was not the place where you could get drink all night.

humm, what time was cut off?

Thanks a million

tinkerbell

You can go with Emirates via Dubai or Qatar via Doha.

Of all the things I've read, most people recommend that you stay in an island that is accessible via sea plane only as other resorts are a bit close to Malé so you could have noise of the planes coming in and such, also the view from the seaplane is meant to be amazing

Also when I was looking a while back at pricing options, going via travel agent it worked out sooo much more expensive than booking online, like there was €1k / €2k difference in price :eek:

uli84

sorry thats probably not on the topic but just wondering if tsunami or anything like this strikes and you're on such island, is there any chance to survive?

Zulu

You've a chance - just not a good one.

Gran Hermano

uli84 wrote: »

sorry thats probably not on the topic but just wondering if tsunami or anything like this strikes and you're on such island, is there any chance to survive?

Check youtube for footage of the 2004 tsunami hitting the Maldives, it had much less of an impact on the islands than it did on the coasts of Thailand and Sri Lanka. The outer reefs tend to protect the islands.

The Maldives are one of the most beautiful places I've visited. Stunning natural beauty and a holiday you would never forget. Best of luck with the trip OP.

Tabnabs

Paradise, absolute paradise


That's the hotel reception!


The seaplane airport terminal is the most memorable experience you'll ever have at an airport


Guaranteed romantic sunset every evening


View from the balcony after the pre-breakfast dip

Absolutely recommend the Maldives. Do not skimp, it's the trip of a lifetime. Get a seaplane, you will never travel like this again! Get a room on stilts, this is a must. Go all in and enjoy free booze, soft drinks and water in your room and cocktails in the evening. The food was incredible, the selection was just ridiculous, you didn't know where to start? Bring a good big book, it gets very hot during the midday and was fantastic to sit on the balcony, read and listen to the sea lapping around the stilts below you.

After being there it is our number one destination. We would go back in a heartbeat if we could afford it.

We flew Emerites from London (via Dubai). Found them a very good airline. You will be knackered when you arrive, but OMG is it worth it.

Zulu

What resort did you go to?

Tabnabs

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon also. We looked at the Hilton resort, but could either afford the top slot at the Kuramathi or near the bottom of the ladder at the Hilton so went with the luxury option and never for an instant wondered if we had picked the right place.

Zulu

Dyflin wrote: »

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon also. We looked at the Hilton resort, but could either afford the top slot at the Kuramathi or near the bottom of the ladder at the Hilton so went with the luxury option and never for an instant wondered if we had picked the right place.

Yea we're looking at Kuramathi also, but having difficulty finding an agent who can help.

Sunway can't help us. Marks travel are the only ones but I'd prefer to go local. Any recommendations?
Also how was the flight?

Tabnabs

We used www.honeymooners.ie , aka Classic Resorts, we managed to bargain them down to match other quotes.

The flight to Dubai was very comfortable, but you leave Dubai around midnight and it's another 6 hour flight on a plane that isn't quite as big (but the same plane Aer Lingus use to the USA so not small either) and you're wrecked when you arrive. There was a fairly long wait to get clear of immigration in Male airport (a few long haul flights arrived at the same time) which didn't help. But once you get to the seaplane "terminal", the excitement builds and from then on you're in holiday mode. :cool:

MrGee

Been to the maldives twice, in 2008 and 2009 both times in February. Stayed on the same island both times, Kuredu island.
Best advice i can give is to book through a uk tour operator, you can go for alot less that way. We went through Twohigs travel the first year(Irish) and the 2nd year we went through hayes and jarvis from the uk, we stayed in better accomadation for about 800 euro each less each . There more open to price negotiating too. All you would have to do is organise your own flights over to heathrow.
As for the Maldives, its utter paradise, its as beautiful as you would see in the brochures and the marine life is amazing, The island we stayed on is quite big for maldive island standards which meant there was alot more activites to do. Some people prefer the smaller islands as they feel its more private.

uli84

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Check youtube for footage of the 2004 tsunami hitting the Maldives, it had much less of an impact on the islands than it did on the coasts of Thailand and Sri Lanka. The outer reefs tend to protect the islands.

Thanks, that's reassuring, sometimes I just panic too much wouldnt like to miss such place due to that...

Ronan

Zulu wrote: »

Yea we're looking at Kuramathi also, but having difficulty finding an agent who can help.

Sunway can't help us. Marks travel are the only ones but I'd prefer to go local. Any recommendations?
Also how was the flight?

We went to Kurmamthi via http://www.escape2.ie (Donabate shop) for our honeymoon back in 2006, it is a fantastic place (Maldives that is).

We flew Dublin -> London -> Dubai -> Male with Emirates, it is a bit of a haul but worth it and if you get a good airline you are fine.

My one tip is pay for the sea plane from Male to Kurmamthi and do not get the boat to the island. I say this because after traveling for 17 hours a 1 or 2 hour trip on a big speed boat is not as much fun as you think and the view from the sea plan is fantastic. Also, our boat broke down and we ended up stranded in the ocean for 45mins! As soon as I got to the resort I was organising the sea plane back

H8GHOTI

Ronan wrote: »

...after traveling for 17 hours a 1 or 2 hour trip on a big speed boat is not as much fun as you think...

Good advice, I'd say.

How big are those boats & how fast? Are they really bumpy? How many people do they seat?
What's the story at Male airport with getting a boat/sea plane? The pic above in Dyflin's post it just looks like a taxi rank. Do you book ahead?

Ronan

There are different kinds of boats, first one we were on (that broke down) seated about 10 and was fairly bumpy as all speed boats are. We then got picked up by a larger boat that seated maybe 30 or 40, but there were only 4 of us passengers on it. It wasn't as bumpy but we sat below deck, which isn't great if you suffer from seasickness.

You can either order your seaplane when booking your trip through an agent or else just get one at the airport, there is a desk at the airport and you can book them there. It was 4 years back when I went but at that time it was $100 per person, money well spend in my opinion.

kave2

I will be going to Maldives in February, Lily Beach Resort. Anyone been there? Any advice?
Does anyone know how much beginner diving course cost? Is it expensive? Never done it before, would love to try it in Maldives.